The
Fauhaber residence serves dual functions: a place for entertaining large
groups, and a cozy refuge for the single owner. The new dining room adjoins
the existing living room and a new deck to provide a large contiguous
area for entertainment. The kitchen provides an area for a quiet cup of
coffee while enjoying the view, and the adjacent hearth room is a cozy
place to curl up with a book by the fire. A dramatic, step-glazed stair
hall separates the private upper floor master suite without presenting
an obtrusive barrier. Sweeping views of Puget Sound are brought into the
house by a panoramic window wall in the dining room, and corner windows
in the kitchen and master bath suite. The additions respect the existing
northwest modern theme of the house and incorporate a second floor while
maintaining the horizontal character of the house.

Major
Considerations: The existing house was expensive to heat, yet remained
cold. The remodeling reduced existing glazing sizes slightly, all windows
were converted to double pane glass, the floors were insulated throughout,
all wall cavities were exposed and insulated, and the electric furnace
was replaced with a high efficiency gas unit. The uninsinuated roof decking
was covered by an insulated attic while retaining the deck and beam ceilings
in all single floor areas. As a result, while the house is larger, it
actually uses a lot less energy than it did before the remodel.